‘Roy-Tho Spirit’ creates history! “It’s a Joint win”, declares STC Warden.

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Published on Thursday, 22 March 2012 23:56

Written by Charit Tissera

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At a joint media briefing held this evening at the Sinhalese Spots Club, the administrative heads of both S. Thomas’ College and Royal College officially announced that, the two schools would be sharing this year’s Mustang’s Trophy, which was awarded to S. Thomas’ College at the Annual Royal –Thomian Limited over encounter on last Saturday (17).

Early reports received by ThePapare.com stated that, Professor Indra de Soysa, Warden of S. Thomas’ College was considering the possibilities of sharing the trophy between the two teams.

However, in today's press briefing, STC warden Prof. de Soysa announced that S. Thomas’ College had decided to share the trophy with their arch rivals. “In the spirit of sportsmanship that marks this noble game, we at S. Thomas’ College have decided to share the trophy with Royal and declare the game a ‘Joint Win’.”

“We hope that this gesture stands as a reminder of the reasons for why our two schools encourage sports amongst our boys and S. Thomas’ is committed wholeheartedly to ensuring that we do our part”, S. Thomas’ College warden Professor Indra de Soysa highlighted.

Our opponents deserve a better decision

In his address, he also remarked that the game which declared the Thomians as winners, ended amidst uncertainty regarding the calculation of the real target to be achieved by the Royalists, under the D/L system. “The mistake presented Royal batsmen with a much larger run rate required to win in the specified overs than that which was subsequently computed to be the actual one, which would have been roughly eight runs per over, which is a difficult, but not entirely unachievable task” he explained.

The STC warden, in his communiqué also noted that the fault associated with the mistake in calculation in no way lies with the schools, but with an independent official of Sri Lanka Cricket, who was tasked with the calculation.

Prof. de Soysa commented that Royalists played hard and displayed a level of cricket that does not warrant a final decision, based on a technical mistake. He also added, “It also wouldn’t be honourable for Thomian cricketers to carry a win on their shoulders, that is now sullied by the bad fortune of worthy opponents”.

Thomians committed to playing at highest levels

Prof. de Soysa went on to say that the schools authorities should ensure that future organizing committees avoid the circumstances that had led to such mistakes and ugly scenes that followed. “We at S. Thomas’ College are committed to playing the game at the highest levels, both on and off the fields”, he ensured.

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Addressing the media gathered, Royal College Principal Mr. Upali Gunasekara noted that this year’s Mustang’s trophy would be a historic one, as it had left behind many lessons to the community at large.

Mr. Gunasekara, agreeing with Prof. de Soysa’s remarks on the miscalculations, had this to say.

“As it has now transpired, there has been a grave mistake in the calculation of the target. That mistake gave rise to a situation where one was declared a winner and the other the looser. When the re-computed statistics became available, it was evident that the announced result of the match was causing injustice to the two teams.”

He also remarked that, as two of the country’s leading and revered institutions, with longstanding, friendly relationships, it became incumbent upon them to find recourse.

Royalists salute the warden and the Thomian fraternity

Mr. Gunasekara noted that it was the Warden of S. Thomas’ College himself had gracefully announced their decision for a ‘shared victory’, at a joint meeting held.

“We Salute the Warden of S. Thomas’ College Prof. Indra de Soysa and the entire Thomian fraternity for this sporting gesture. I have no doubt that every Royalist will be unanimous in deeply appreciating this gesture of the Thomians, which has been taken in the true spirit of sportsmanship. I am aso confident that this decision to announce Royal and S. Thomas’ as joint winners will enhance and enrich the strong bonds that exist between our two schools”, Mr. Gunasekara stressed.

We are setting an example

While taking a serious note of the situation that arose and ensuring that such situations would not recur, Mr. Gunasekara pointed saying, here’s an occasion where two schools have amicably resolved an issue and delivered justice to all parties concerned.

“We have seen schools resorting to legal action against each other, on incidents relating to sporting fields, but the way our two schools dealt with the situation by giving true meaning to the words that have recognized cricket around the world – Gentlemen’s Game”, he adjudged.

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Thora makes it to the Mustangs Trophy amidst confusions.

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Published on Sunday, 18 March 2012 00:23

Written by Charit Tissera

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In a surprising turn of events, St. Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia walked away with the Mustangs Trophy, of the Annual Royal-Thomian One Day encounter, which was worked off today for the 37th consecutive time, at the Sinhalese Sports Club premises. The final result read as St. Thomas’ College winning the match by 113 runs according to the Duckworth/Lewis method.

Having won the toss, the Royal Skipper Imal Liyanage invited his Thomian counterpart Sachin Peiris and the boys to bat first.

Jayasinghe, the play-maker

Opening the Thomian innings were Asiri Wickaramanayake and Devin Jayasinghe who put up a 21 run partnership for the first wicket.  Wickramanayake was dismissed at 9, when he was brilliantly caught at short mid-wicket by young Harith Samarasinghe, for a Anupa Thilakarathne delivery.

Jayasinghe was then joined by the left hand attacking batsman Javed Bongso.  The duo managed to build-up a 49-run second wicket partnership when Bongso was caught by the ‘tall boy’ Sampath De Silva who was positioned inside the circle for Harith Samarasinghe’s loose full toss. At the 15th over, the lads from the school by the sea, were 71 for the loss of two wickets.

The Thomian skipper Sachin Peiris joining the battle, put up a dense 107 run partnership with his partner Jayasinghe and ended up hitting a half ton. The playmaker for the Thomians was Devin Jayasinghe who recorded the only century (101) in today’s match off 132 deliveries.  Jayasinghe’s 101 included 11 boundaries and a six, which eventually ushered the Thomians reaching the total of 238.

For the Royal bowling camp, both Thilakarathna and Samarasinghe bagged three wickets each while paceman Anjana Kudahetti claimed two.Thilakarathne was doing the magic with the ball, swinging away and into the batsmen, paralyzing the defense of the Thomian openers.

The unfortunate Royalists

Chasing a target of 239 runs, Isuru Gunathilake and skipper Imal Liyanage opened the innings for the lads from Reid Avenue.  The opening duo managed to construct a solid opening partnership with Gunathilake scoring 41 off 58 deliveries and Liyanage contributing with a hard hit 39 runs off 37 deliveries. Liyanage’s 37 composed six boundaries and a six.

Heshan Kumarasiri also recorded 26 runs on the scoreboard on behalf of the Royalists.

At the 29th over, the play was paused for 80 minutes due to gloomy weather and lighting conditions. At this point in time, the Royalists were 130 for the loss of four wickets. As per the Duckworth/Lewis method, Royalists were already on the safe side with two runs ahead of the target, ThePapare.com reliably learns.

However, when the match resumed, the Royalists were given a revised target of 259 runs, having put aside the original target of 239 set by the Thomians in the first session of the day!

When contacted by ThePapare.com, a match official who remained to stay anonymous commented that according to the Duckworth/Lewis method, Royal was given this new target, which was to be achieved by the 35th over, if they were to win the match.

In order to confirm the statement made by the said official, the writer yet again raised the same question, ‘are the numbers right? Are you saying Royal College had to get 129 runs in just 36 balls to win the match?’ and the reply was ‘Yes, that’s how the Duckworth/Lewis system works’.

Amidst this confusion, St. Thomas’ College were adjudged the winners of the 37th Mustangs Trophy, after three years.
Devin Jayasinghe who made a dazzling ton for the Thomians was awarded Man of the Match.

Best Batsman St. Thomas' College - Devin Jayasinghe

Best Batsman Royal College - Imal Liyanage

Best Bowler St. Thomas' College - Madushan Ravichandrakumar

Best Bowler Royal College - Anup Thilakarathne

Best Performance by a Fresher - Harith Samarasinghe of Royal College

Brief Scores:

STC 238/9 - 50 overs (Devin Jayasinghe 101, Sachin Peiris 53) - For RC bowling: Anjana Kudahetti 2/54, Anupa Thillakaratne 3/39, Harith Samarasinghe 3/27)

RC 145/4 – 35 overs (Isuru Gunatillake 41, Imal Liyanage 39, Heshan Kumarasiri 26)

Result: STC won by 113 runs according to the D/L method

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